Page 24 of Daddy's Reckoning

“Baby needs cheese.”

He glared at me. “You’re not supposed to be on your feet.”

“Then order pizza so I can sit down.”

I really thought he was going to argue and probably even pull the Daddy card, but he huffed, pushed my hand off his phone, and said, “Fine, but I’m ordering a salad, too, and you will eat it.” I could tell he was choosing his battles, just as I was.

“Fine.” I stuck my hand out for him to shake.

“The compromise is only good if you’re back in your chair in the next thirty seconds.”

Snapping my mouth shut, I spun on my heel, as his friends all seemed ready to catch me as I hurried back to my chair.

“Feet up,” Theo growled when my butt hit the chair.

This man was going to drive me crazy. I could feel it. So much for a relaxing summer. Oh, I’d get to rest all right; I wouldn’t have a choice, but it wouldn’t be relaxing.

Oh, well. I was getting pizza. Leaning back in the chair with a satisfied smile, I rested my hand on my belly and listened to the chatter around me as his friends negotiated pizza toppings, and argued over who was paying for it. In the end Archer won, only because he was able to get the order in fastest.

Within minutes, the subject had turned back to the baby—our baby—and I realized quickly what a blessing it was to not have to keep my pregnancy a secret, and to be around people who were actually happy for me and viewing it as a good thing, despite all the issues Theo and I still had to work out.

“Do you know what you’re having?” the woman with Lennon asked, resting her elbow on her knee and laying her chin in her hands. I’d learned her name was Zoe and she was Lennon’s old art professor that he’d had a longtime crush on. Weird, but it had a happy ending. They were together now, and Lennon seemed more content than I’d ever seen him. He might have been glowing more than I was.

“It’s too early,” I answered her. “I’ve only had one appointment so far.”

Theo frowned, jerking his head up to glower at me through squinty eyes. “Just one? Is that normal? You should be getting regular prenatal care.”

Thank god for Jasmine, a mother of three, who leaned over Bain to lay a hand on Theo’s forearm and reassure him, “Relax, Daddy. It’s perfectly normal this early. Plenty of doctors won’t see you until you’re almost out of the first trimester.” She didn’t clarify the reason, but as a medical student, I knew it was because of the large number of pregnancies that didn’t ever make it that far.

Theo seemed slightly mollified by her reassurance, but he wasn’t ready to simmer down. “You need prenatal vitamins.”

“I have some. Well, I had some. They’re at my condo.”

He nodded, then returned his attention to his phone. I didn't have to ask what he was doing. I already knew: ordering a year's worth of vitamins for immediate delivery.

“Are you going to find out what you’re having, or do you want to be surprised?” Zoe asked.

“I… uh…” I stuttered, lifting my head to look at Theo. I wanted to know, but it hadn’t occurred to me that Theo might not want to. Not surprising, since I’d never expected Theo to be involved at all, or even to know about the baby. “I’m not sure,” I answered slowly. I could feel Theo’s gaze locked on me, and I knew he had an opinion, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear it. I smiled at Zoe. “There’s a lot we haven’t had a chance to talk about.”

She nodded and the subject was dropped.

“You have to let us throw you a baby shower!” Archer’s girlfriend, Audrey, cried.

“Oh, yes!” Nyla and Jasmine nodded in excited agreement.

For a moment it was easy to be flattered by their gracious generosity, but then I reminded myself that I was just here because Theo was stubborn and I had nobody else. “Oh, I don't know,” I hedged. “I don’t really have anybody to invite.”

Nyla dismissed my concern with a flick of her wrist. “That’s okay. You have us. And Theo’s family.”

I realized then that I knew nothing about Theo’s family. Apparently, he had a relationship with them. Was it a good relationship? Did he have siblings? I heaved a sigh, dismayed by how little I knew of the man I’d inadvertently tied myself to for life.

Laughter broke out around me, and I realized I’d zoned out. As I looked around at Theo’s beaming face and his friend’s soft joyful laughter, I knew it could have been much worse. If I had to pick a man and his friends to tie myself to for life, I was glad it was this man and these friends.

Just as soon as I had the thought, reality set in, and I had to remind myself not to get too attached. I still had to manage to keep Theo at arm’s length. That was going to be the hard part.

CHAPTER 6

THEO